The main goal of the study is to obtain pharmacokinetic and safety data of bumetanide in newborns with refractory seizures. The overall hypothesis is that bumetanide, added to conventional antiepileptic (antiseizure) medications, will be a safe and well tolerated medication, compared with conventional antiepileptic drugs alone.

The primary outcome is determination of the pharmacokinetics and safety of bumetanide in newborns with refractory seizures. [ Time Frame: 5-6 years are anticipated for collection of the neonatal data ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

The investigators will determine the dose exposure, half-life, volume of distribution and clearance of bumetanide in newborns with refractory seizures. The investigators will determine if there is a significant effect of hepatic dysfunction or hypothermia on bumetanide pharmacokinetics. For evaluation of safety, the rate of adverse events will be compared between treatment and control groups.

Secondary Outcome Measures:

A secondary outcome is determination of the feasibility of the study design to test antiepileptic drugs to treat neonatal seizures caused by acute hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in a clinical trial. [ Time Frame: 5-6 years are anticipated for collection of the neonatal data ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

The investigators will determine the feasibility of enrolling and randomizing newborns early in the course of their refractory seizures.

Seizures occur more often during the newborn period (2-3.5 per 1000 live births) than at any later age. Neonatal seizures can lead to frequent and serious long-term consequences in survivors, such as later epilepsy and significant cognitive and motor disabilities. Unfortunately there are no completely effective drugs to treat neonatal seizures. Anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) currently used to treat neonatal seizures are generally ineffective and have significant potential for side effects. Furthermore, many of these AEDs have never been tested in a randomized study. Numerous experts have thus emphasized in the last few years the urgent need for randomized trials of potential new treatments for neonatal seizures. The investigators are conducting a pilot study of the drug bumetanide as one such potential and novel treatment. Bumetanide is a commercially available drug that has been used safely in newborns as a diuretic for many years with minimal side effects. Recent basic science research in animals has shown bumetanide to be very effective in reducing seizures in neonatal animals by blocking a specific chloride importer which is highly expressed in neonates but not in children and adults (1). Moreover, these experimental studies have shown bumetanide to be particularly effective against seizures when used in combination with phenobarbital (PB), which is the standard first drug given to treat neonatal seizures (2).

The investigators will conduct a randomized, double-blind, controlled, dose escalation study of BTN as add-on therapy to treat refractory seizures caused by HIE, focal or multi-focal stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, CNS infection, genetic syndrome, focal or diffuse brain malformation, idiopathic or presumed genetic etiology of seizures, or metabolic disorder other than electrolyte disturbances or those caused by renal failure not controlled by an initial loading dose of PB. The trial will test the feasibility of early enrollment of newborns with HIE, rapid application of a full montage EEG, and continuous review of EEG data to detect refractory seizures as soon as they occur following an initial loading dose of PB. When an EEG-proven seizure occurs at least 30 minutes following a loading dose of PB, the newborn will be randomized to receive either BTN or placebo in conjunction with a loading dose of PB. Clinical, laboratory and continuous EEG monitoring data obtained after BTN administration will be analyzed to determine the pharmacokinetics and safety of BTN by comparing data from treatment and standard therapy groups. This study addresses important challenges in trial design and sets the stage for trials to improve treatment of neonatal seizures. Data from this pilot study will be used to guide design of a planned Phase III multicenter trial to test the efficacy of BTN to control refractory neonatal seizures.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

Child, Adult, Senior

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

newborns with a post-conceptional age of 33-44 weeks

condition with risk for seizure:

asphyxia

intracranial hemorrhage

suspected or confirmed stroke

CNS infection

genetic syndrome

focal or diffuse brain malformation

idiopathic or presumed genetic etiology of seizures

metabolic disorder other than electrolyte disturbances or those caused by renal failure

suspected clinical seizure

Exclusion Criteria:

have transient metabolic abnormalities (e.g., transient hypocalcemia) as the sole cause of seizures

are receiving ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) therapy because of alteration of bumetanide pharmacokinetics by ECMO

have contraindications to bumetanide (as determined by treating physician)

have received diuretics such as furosemide or BTN

newborns with a total serum bilirubin > 15 mg/dL at enrollment

newborns given ≥ 40mg/kg of phenobarbital

loading doses of AEDs other than phenobarbital (those who receive levetiracetam are still eligible since levetiracetam does not affect bumetanide pharmacokinetics)

Contacts and Locations

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To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00830531